Featuring a guest verse and hook from singer Lauriana Mae, “Only You” will be the first single off Cee-Lo’s next solo album.
Tag Archives: Cee Lo
[News] Big Boi Says Cee Lo Green Was Almost In Outkast
Big Boi recalls why Cee Lo Green didn’t join him in Outkast with Andre 3000.
Outkast and Goodie Mob have always been close associates, sharing commonality as part of the Dungeon Family and recording over the years. But fans may not know that Cee Lo Green was originally supposed to be part of Outkast.
During an interview with ThisIs50.com, Big Boi spoke on how “The Voice” judge would always be hanging around but that he and Andre 3000 were much tighter. “Yeah, kinda sorta. He was hanging out with us. We go way back, so kinda. For a brief minute,” he said. “Me and Dre was just together more. We would see Cee Lo sometimes but not all the time like that. Me and Dre was together day in, day out.”
Big Boi is set to release his new album Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors tomorrow. The set features appearances from Little Dragon, A$AP Rocky and more.
RELATED: Big Boi Releases Original Version Of “Mama Told Me” With Little Dragon
‘The Voice’ Reveals Its Super Six As Two Head Home
A pair of singers got the ax on Tuesday’s (November 27) results episode of “The Voice,” with the lone remaining Team Christina singer heading out the door.
Dez Duron, who tried out unsuccessfully on the last season of “The Voice,” was holding it down for coach Christina Aguilera, but the heartthrob singer didn’t make it to the top six. Team Cee Lo‘s Cody Belew was also sent packing, thanking fans for “riding with me on this journey.”
Another of Cee Lo‘s singers, Trevin Hunte, got stuck in the bottom three, thanking his “Lord and savior Jesus Christ” before he learned that he would live to sing another day.
Before saying goodbye to any singers, we got to hear everyone display their talents once more. Team Adam’s Amanda Brown and Hunte formed a blessed union to sing “Marry the Night,” Lady Gaga‘s ode to NYC.
Cee Lo, meanwhile, reunited with his “Voice” contestants, past and present — and the Muppets! — for a Christmas-themed performance before teaming for a duet with Kermit for “It Ain‘t Easy Being Green,” wearing a mirrored avocado-colored sleeveless getup with matching hat for the occasion.
Belew, Terry McDermott, Melanie Martinez and Nicholas David put their various team alliances aside for a folk-circle performance of the Plain White T’s track “Rhythm of Love,” and Cassadee Pope and Duron channeled Rihanna and Ne-Yo for the love/hate track “Hate How Much I Love You.”
All eight artists landed on the iTunes charts after Monday night’s episode, host Carson Daly informed the audience, with McDermott’s cover of coach Blake Shelton’s “Over” topping the rock chart and Martinez’s take on Alex Clare’s “Too Close” at #1 on the alternative chart.
‘The Voice’ Narrows It Down To Top 12!
Buttons have been pushed, votes have been counted and two months of singing lead up to Thursday’s (November 8) episode of “The Voice,” where the top 20 contestants were narrowed down to the coveted final dozen.
Host Carson Daly immediately briefed audiences of the show’s itinerary, explaining that the night wraps up the live playoffs round of the competition and advances the two contestants who received the most of America’s votes on each team. Still, the judges had a say in this elimination when they were offered one final save to a remaining member of their crew.
Early on in the night, Adam Levine took advantage of the anticipated episode by taking to the stage with his Maroon 5 bandmates to serve up some fresh new music: their latest single “Daylight,” the third release off their pop-heavy album, Overexposed. Working in some cross promotion, Levine stood center stage as he and the rest of his bandmates performed the soft-rock track in matching blue ensembles with a midst of surrounding smoke. Audiences also got a taste of tune by season two winner of “The Voice,” Jermaine Paul, who performed his new single “I Believe in This Life,” off his debut album (dropping December 18). It may have been song with a all too familiar radio-friendly dance formula, but the pop tune lent Paul a nice platform to showcase his talented vocals.
Team Adam Levine
While Amanda Brown and Bryan Keith deservingly nabbed the most of America’s votes, it left an undecided fate for Levine’s remaining three: Joselyn Rivera, Melanie Martinez and Loren Allred. When asked which contestant Adam would like to save, the audience began to roar, but not before the chart-topper attempted to quiet them. “Please stop for one second. I want to talk to these guys,” he said sternly. And after offering each of them praise, Levine revealed that Melanie Martinez would be the third singer to rep for his team. Bursting into tears, the finalist turned to her teammates and offered them a hug as the Maroon 5 frontman joined his disqualified castmates.
Team Blake Shelton
Terry McDermott and Cassadee Pope were obvious shoe-ins for the final dozen, but Shelton’s save (Michaela Paige) might have came as a surprise, considering Julio Cesar Castillo received one of the two standing ovations during his performance on Monday. Regardless, the judge admitted the choice was one he felt deep down in his gut. “I got to go with my heart and emotion,” he confessed before announcing Paige’s name. Of course, this also left Miss Liz Davis as the other disqualified teammate.
Team Christina Aguilera
Dez Duron and Sylvia Yacoub‘s talents received some overwhelming props
from the judges on Wednesday, and America agreed as Daly announced the
duo as the most voted contestants. It was a decision that lead Aguilera to chose Adriana Louise as he save, ending the show’s road for fellow females De’Borah and Devyn DeLoera. Instead of complimenting the remaining, Aguilera offered them all some important advice. “Don’t let anyone or anyone’s opinion ever define who you are,” she said. “You guys are so special and so talented. If I would have allowed people to effect me, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Team Cee Lo Green
While fan favorite Trevin Hunte was a predictable advance to this season’s dirty dozen, America also found a liking to Nicholas David. With just a few minutes down to the clock, Judge Cee Lo offered some inspirational words and let the knife fall on Diego Val and MacKenzie Bourg. It was a decision that left Cody Belew with the last spot in the final round. As for his reasons for picking Belew, Cee Lo said, “I’m going to pick on the grounds of most improved.”
Final 12
Amanda Brown
Bryan Keith
Melanie Martinez
Terry McDermott
Michaela Paige
Dez Duron
Sylvia Yacoub
Adriana Louise
Trevin Hunte
Nicholas David
Cody Belew
Did your favorite make it to the final 12? Share your thoughts below!
Christina Aguilera Previews Five Songs From Lotus, Her ‘Labor Of Love’
With just one week to go until Christina Aguilera releases her seventh studio album, Lotus, the “Your Body” singer hosted an album preview event, where she played five tracks to some of her biggest fans, both old and new.
“As in every record, it’s my heart. It’s a labor of love. It’s not just songs to me; these are blood, sweat and tears and stuff from the heart,” Aguilera said. “You’ll hear on this record that I’ve written songs for the next generation to hopefully inspire new singers of raw talent and realness. … I definitely wanted to have fun and make Lotus about freedom.”
The five tracks from Lotus, which hits stores November 13, have Aguilera showing off her impressive vocal range, reminding us why she is one of the best in pop music. Yet on these tracks, Aguilera — who called this a “celebratory record” — is also taking some risks. Her lyrics are unapologetic, she is exploring different sounds and she recruited some friends in fellow “Voice” coaches Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton for some impressive collaborations.
Let’s take a closer look at the songs:
“Let There Be Love”
It’s hard to believe that in Aguilera’s decade-plus career, she has not worked with hitmaker Max Martin, but on Lotus, she finally teamed up with the super producer, and it seems like the collaboration was long overdue.
Martin produced two songs on Lotus: lead single “Your Body” and “Let There Be Love,” an uptempo track with a heavy beat and sultry lyrics that seems like it was made for people to get on their feet and get into the clubs. “I want to know your hearts beating/ I want to tell you like that/ It feels so good that I can’t hold back like that/ Hit the right spot making my eyes roll back/ Let there be love,” she sings.
“He couldn’t have been more great, and this is a really super fun song,” Aguilera said of working with Martin. “Super uptempo, it’s probably the most dance-ish song on my record … but it’s just free and it’s representative of what this album is about.”
“Army of Me”
We all know Aguilera is a fighter, but she wanted to prove it again. With “Army of Me,” Aguilera took a page out of her Stripped era, penning a song reminiscent to her smash single “Fighter” with lyrics like “One of me is wiser/ One of me is stronger/ One of me’s a fighter/ And there’s a thousand faces of me/ We’re gonna rise up for every time you broke me/ You’re gonna face an army of me.”
This wasn’t a coincidence: Aguilera has been introduced to a whole new generation of fans ever since appearing on “The Voice,” many of whom aren’t familiar with her past work, which is why she wanted them to have their own “Fighter” anthem.
“This song is a really fun uptempo, and I wanted to do sort of a ‘Fighter 2.0′ inspirational uptempo for the younger generation, because I felt they should have it,” Aguilera said. “All these 6-year-olds who know me from pushing my button and turning around in a big red chair who weren’t around for the actual ‘Fighter,’ this is my chance to recharge it, rejuvenate it and do something modernized for them.”
“Blank Page”
Late last week, Aguilera shared “Blank Page” with all her fans, tweeting out a link to the moving ballad, which shows off her vocal range. Even though the lyrics are completely different, Aguilera told the group this song reminds her of one of her most powerful ballads: “Beautiful.”
“It’s almost reminiscent to me of the quality of song, to me, that’s so vulnerable and so empowering that ‘Beautiful’ is, but in a relationship way,” Aguilera explained. “It’s about being OK with saying you’re sorry and the fact that you might have regrets, but it’s about finding closure and making peace with yourself and the situation. The song is sort of the heart of the record.”
“Make the World Move” (featuring Cee Lo Green)
With a musical arrangement that is funky and explosive, it’s no wonder Aguilera tapped her fellow “Voice” judge to appear on the inspirational track. “The time is now/ No time to wait/ Turn up the love/ Turn down the hate,” she sings over a fast-moving track backed by horns.
“I got to collaborate with my good buddy Cee Lo,” Aguilera said. “There was a part for a potential male vocal on the chorus, and I just heard immediately Cee Lo‘s voice on it, his signature Cee Lo, and it was fun collaborating with him and having him on my record and us joining forces together.”
“Just a Fool” (featuring Blake Shelton)
Previewing another power ballad from Lotus, Aguilera’s vocals sound better than ever on “Just a Fool.” The pop diva recruited her “favorite” “Voice” judge, Blake Shelton, who she said “busted his ass to make the time” to record the song. Shelton brings his smooth vocals and country flare to the heartbreaking ballad, which blends nicely with Aguilera’s booming sound as they sing about the pain of a breakup.
“Who am I kidding? I know what I’m missing/ I had my heart set on you/ But nothing else hurts like you/ Who knew that love was so cruel/ I waited and waited so long/ For someone to never come home/ It’s my fault to think you’d be true/ I’m just a fool,” the two sing on the moving duet.
What do you think of Christina Aguilera’s new tracks? Let us know in the comments!
‘The Voice’ Judges Fill Up Teams As Battles Wind Down
Only a handful of slots remain on the coaches teams as “The Voice” battles start winding down. Adam Levine was the first to fill his team on last night’s show, where we saw blind audition favorites Daniel Rosa and former Hey Monday frontwoman Cassadee Pope take the stage.
The normally two-hour singing competition was shortened to an hour to clear the airwaves for the final presidential debate. Although the “Voice” coaches Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera didn’t spar as much as the presidential candidates, they did keep it spicy with Shelton raking in a good old fashioned steal, leaving pop diva Aguilera with the last remaining steal.
Here’s how the night panned out:
The Comeback Kid
A very strong Team Cee Lo began the night’s battle rounds with an indie rendition of Adam Lambert’s “Whataya Want From Me.” Returning crowd favorite Daniel Rosa took on classically trained Alexis Marceaux. From the get-go, guest mentor Rob Thomas proclaimed his affinity for Rosa, whose only real issue was his self-esteem. Alexis, on the other hand, struggled finding her stride with her very technical background. Although the coaches were divided in their picks, Cee Lo felt a greater connection to Rosa and expressed his desire to help Rosa achieve his dreams.
Ain’t No ‘Voice’ High Enough
Brandon Mahone and Nicole Nelson repped Team Adam as the pair took on the iconic track “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” It seemed like the seasoned Nelson had this one in the bag but as rehearsals went on the young Mahone created a pretty even playing field. Mahone worked through his nerves and gave an entertaining performance across Nelson who was advised to tone down her big voice and find some softness in the notes. Eventually, the win went to Nelson, whose experience seemed a more logical choice to win the overall competition.
Freeing The Christina Within
Devyn Deloera and MarissAnn took their roles in Team Christina quite literally. The dynamic duo was well-matched from the start, with Devyn leading in the confident department against the youngest competitor this season. It was hard to tell there were any confidence issues when two feisty divas emerged on stage, equipped with finger waves and riffs, reminiscent of their coach. While MarissAnn really came into her own, the battle went to the more experienced Devyn. The journey didn’t end there for the young singer. “I like MarissAnn,” Shelton exclaimed before stealing the little one away. Xtina actually thanked Shelton for giving the talented singer another shot as MarissAnn made her way into the arms of her new coach.
Recap (winner vs. loser):
Team Cee Lo: Daniel Rosa vs. Alexis Marceaux
Team Adam: Nicole Nelson vs. Brandon Mahone
Team Christina: Devyn Deloera vs. MarissAnn
Team Adam: Loren Allred vs. Brian Scartocci
Team Blake: Cassadee Pope vs. Ryan Jirovec
Team Adam: Joe Kirkland vs. Samuel Mouton
Who do you think should have won last night? Share your comments below!
Beyonce To Perform At Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show
Beyoncé recently confirmed that she no longer plans to appear in Clint Eastwood’s remake of “A Star is Born,” citing too many scheduling conflicts as the problem. With no announced album, tour or scheduled performances, fans were unclear about what the conflicts were, but one of them is probably preparing for her 2013 Super Bowl halftime performance.
Although the official announcement from B’s camp isn’t expected until Wednesday, a source has confirmed to the Associated Press that Mrs. Carter will perform at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show, scheduled for February 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
No word yet on whether there will be guest appearances during her set, but early reports point at husband Jay-Z as well as Destiny’s Child members Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland as top choices. MTV News’ calls to Beyoncé’s camp were not returned by press time.
This year’s Super Bowl included a blowout performance from Madonna, with guests Nicki Minaj, Cee Lo, LMFAO and M.I.A., who caused uproar by flipping the bird while onstage. We’re pretty sure B will keep things PG.
2013 will mark Beyonce’s first halftime performance, but she did sing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 in her native Houston, when the New England Patriots took on and defeated the Carolina Panthers.
Her most recent performance was at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where she joined Jay-Z for his final show after an eight-night run.
Beyonce To Perform At Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show?
Beyoncé recently confirmed that she no longer plans to appear in Clint Eastwood’s remake of “A Star is Born,” citing too many scheduling conflicts as the problem. With no announced album, tour or scheduled performances, fans were unclear about what the conflicts were, but one of them is probably preparing for her 2013 Super Bowl halftime performance.
Although the official announcement from B’s camp isn’t expected until Wednesday, a source has confirmed to the Associated Press that Mrs. Carter will perform at the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show, scheduled for February 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
No word yet on whether there will be guest appearances during her set. MTV News’ calls to Beyoncé’s camp were not returned by press time.
This year’s Super Bowl included a blowout performance from Madonna, with guests Nicki Minaj, Cee Lo, LMFAO and M.I.A., who caused uproar by flipping the bird while onstage. We’re pretty sure B will keep things PG.
This will mark Beyoncé’s first halftime performance, but she did sing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 in her native Houston, when the New England Patriots took on and defeated the Carolina Panthers.
Her most recent performance was at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where she joined Jay-Z for his final show after an eight-night run.
‘The Voice’ Wraps Up Blind Auditions As Coaches Pick Final Teams
They’re off to the races! “The Voice” completed its blind audition rounds Monday night with its pretty panel of coaches ready to take the competition to the finish line.
Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton started the show with two spots left on their 16-member teams. As desperation for their final members hit a peak, even the coaches started taking sides.
Here’s how the night played out:
Body Revolution
In lieu of Lady Gaga’s recent Body Revolution Campaign, it seemed fitting her talented backup singer Chevonne also acknowledged battling an eating disorder, along with contestant Jessica Cayne.
Chevonne’s unique tone and strong voice caught Shelton’s ear but hit a particular chord with Green. “I feel pain in your voice,” Green told the singer. This prompted Chevonne to come clean of her past. “I could relate to you because I have written, on many occasions, from a painful place and there is a way to overcome it,” a glassy-eyed Green continued. The cathartic moment was quite touching and completely overshadowed any nonsense pitch from Shelton. Chevonne went right in the hands of Cee Lo.
No Boy Banders Allowed
That seems like the theme in season three of the singing competition as another boy bander bit the dust. Rod Michael found fame in his early twenties as part of the boy band B3. Unfortunately, the spotlight didn’t translate into a career and Michael became obsessed with getting another chance. Putting all his eggs in the “Voice” basket, the singer won the hearts of the ladies but didn’t put a dent in the coaches. “It was like ’50 Shades of Grey’ in here,” Levine said to the disappointed singer. Although Michael had the looks, he lacked a real connection to the words. Levine put it best, “It’s ‘The Voice’ not ‘The Abs.’ ” Touché.
The Legacy Lives On
Celica Westbrook is a third-generation singer who was offered a record deal and an opportunity to tour with Justin Bieber. But in a flash, it all fell apart. Refusing to give up, the young singer let her voice do the talking. The soulful, mature sound that came out was far beyond her 16 years and caught the attention of Aguilera, Green and Shelton. While her sound hit a “soft spot” for Green, Shelton and Xtina touted her star power. “As God is my witness, you have to be on the radio right now!” Aguilera proclaimed just before she nabbed Westbrook for her own.
Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover
We see it a lot on “The Voice” — the sound doesn’t always match the look. It’s part of the show’s charm, and it was witnessed again with Rudy Parris, a raven-haired man clad in black. He looked a rocker but let out a soulful country version of Sting’s “Every Breath You Take.” Green and Shelton were both surprised by what they say, “You damn sure don’t look country, but country’s still in there,” Shelton said, “I don’t know what you’re going to do about that but pick me.” Parris took the final spot in the country singer’s team, leaving Green shut out.
Bam-Bam-Thank-Ya … Green
Cody Belew grew up in the rodeo. The country singer accidentally discovered soul music and expressed his belief that in his last life he had to have been “an elderly black lady” and his dream coach was none other than parrot-toting Cee Lo Green. It seemed like all hope was lost for Belew when started singing for the coaches; none of them were turning around. At the very last moment, Green pushed his button without Belew even realizing. When it dawned on him that he was picked by his idol, he screamed a few expletives in disbelief and jumped for joy. “That’s the best reaction we’ve ever heard, ever,” Levine said.
Now that the teams are full, the real battles begin next week. Coaches are teaming up with guest mentors to hone the skills of the contestants and narrow down the playing field.
Team Levine (with guest mentor Mary J. Blige)
Bryan Keith
Nicole Nelson
Joe Kirkland
Adanna Duru
Samuel Mouton
Michelle Brooks-Thompson
Melanie Martinez
Collin McLoughlin
Brian Scartocci
Loren Allred
Alessandra Guercio
Sam James
Brandon Mahone
Benji
Caitlin Michele
Kayla Nevarez
Team Christina (with guest mentor Billie Joe Armstrong)
De’borah
Devyn Deloera
Adriana Louise
Paulina
Joselyn Rivera
Aquile
Nelly’s Echo
Lisa Scinta
Jordan Pruitt
Sylvia Yacoub
Laura Vivas
Marissaann
Dez Duron
Beat Frequency
Nathalie Hernandez
Celica Westbrook
Team Blake (with guest mentor Michael Buble)
Terry McDermott
Lelia Broussard
Charlie Rey
Suzanna Choffel
Julio Cesar Castillo
Terisa Griffin
2Steel Girls
Liz Davis
Nicole Johnson
Casey Muessigmann
Gracia Harrison
Michaela Paige
Cassadee Pope
Ryan Jirovec
Kelly Crapa
Rudy Parris
Team Cee Lo (with guest mentor Rob Thomas)
Daniel Rosa
Avery Wilson
Emily Earle
Alexis Marceaux
Diego Val
Chevonne
JR Aquino
Mycle Wastman
Domo
Mackenzie Bourg
Nicholas David
Ben Taub
Todd Kessler
Amanda Brown
Trevin Hunte
Cody Belew
Which singer do you think was the best of the night?
‘The Voice’ Execs Push Button On Two More Seasons
Given the flurry of positive news surrounding “The Voice” recently, the steady ratings and announcement of new judges Usher and Shakira, it should come as no surprise to learn that the reality singing competition has been renewed.
According to Entertainment Weekly, NBC has officially renewed the show for two more cycles, a fourth and fifth season. The fourth cycle will premiere in the spring of 2013 and the fifth cycle will follow next fall.
“This pickup will assure the many dedicated “Voice” fans that this innovative show will continue to bring some of the most talented new voices to the world’s attention through all of next year,” said NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt. “With the addition of Usher and Shakira as rotating coaches to join Christina, Cee Lo, Adam and Blake in the next cycle, we know that this incredibly addictive program will remain even more relevant as we move forward through this exciting season.”
Host Carson Daly recently told MTV News that he is especially excited to see what Usher and Shakira bring to the judges table.
“We love it. We’ve been working hard at it,” Daly told MTV News on the red carpet of the Emmys on Sunday. “We knew Christina and Cee Lo were going to go tour, we wanted to find two people that are big musicians and artists who are trying to give back and help discover somebody and, really, Usher is that. That’s his business model, that’s what he does, so we’re excited to have them both.”
New judge Usher also added that he can’t wait to step into the mentoring spotlight.
“It’s the type of show that I feel really sets up an artist and makes it about what matters most first: the voice,” he said. “Everything else comes afterwards in terms of the mentors; that’s what gives the personality, gives the opportunity to be an artist who will excel and transcend culture and also be able to tell an incredible story in music. So I like being able to be at that place. I love being a mentor.”
Stoked for another two seasons of “The Voice?” Vet your excitement in the comments!





